Installation and Support of Software in Computer Labs and in Instrumented Classrooms

This page contains information about requesting, installation, and types of software NDSU allows its faculty, students and staff to install.

Overview

Usage

Users will be required to login to use a computer lab computer. The same login and password that you currently use for NDSU is used for this system. 

Upgrades 

Operating systems will be upgraded for Fall Semester if the software is released by January 1 of that year. 
Applications will be upgraded if the software is released by July 1 of that year. 

Installing Software 

Logging in on a computer lab machine will gain users the ability to install most software. Occasionally, software requires "administrative access" before installing. In this case, users' attempts to install software will fail. 
Users wishing to install software themselves will want to test their software to be sure it will operate in our environment. Also, due to the security software on our systems, any software installation requiring a system restart (known as a "reboot") will not work. (Upon reboot, all systems will be restored to the default setup. No changes that users make to a classroom or lab machine will survive a reboot). 

Deadline to Request Software 

The deadline for requesting cluster class software for Fall Semester is May 1. 

Software Installation and Support Cycle 

We are organizing the installation and support of software into cycles, like software architects do. The beginning of Fall and Spring Semesters will be preceded with a major installation (like a major upgrade if we were software vendors). 
Several weeks into each of those semesters, we will do a minor upgrade (like a vendor's patch). This will accommodate the needs of faculty new to our campus, as well as provide the opportunity for others to fine-tune the installations that are in place. Faculty should plan ahead to identify their needs and inform us before published deadlines. 

Software Installs

If you experience problems with an application in a classroom or computer lab, all faculty, staff and students should communicate with us so we may diagnose the problems. Please use the links on this page to submit a Help Desk Request ticket: https://www.ndsu.edu/it/help/idc/
In order to make substantive decisions each year about software installation and support, it is important for us to know exactly what problems occur. 

Class Software

We will guarantee the following dates for cluster software installation requests received by the deadline (assuming the software works with our configuration of Windows or MAC OS): 
  • If we receive your software and license information by May 1, we will have the software installed by the beginning of Fall Semester. 
  • If we receive your software and license information by Oct. 1, we will have the software installed by the beginning of Spring Semester. 
  • If we receive your software and license information by Feb. 1, we will have the software installed for Summer Semester. 
To submit an installation request, please use the Lab or Classroom Software form.
All software currently installed in clusters for departments must be requested annually by May 1st to be installed for the next school year.

Instrumented Classroom Support

Computers in instrumented classrooms contain ITS software that is installed in most of NDSU's public clusters as well as class software that is requested by professors. 
We will guarantee the following installation dates for instrumented classrooms software installation requests received by the deadline. 
  • If we receive your software and license information by May 1, we will have the software installed by the beginning of Fall Semester. 
  • If we receive your software and license information by Oct. 1, we will have the software installed by the beginning of Spring Semester. 
  • If we receive your software and license information by Feb. 1, we will have the software installed for Summer Semester. 
All software currently installed in instrumented classrooms for departments must be requested annually by June 30th to be installed for the next year. 
Instructors will be allowed to temporarily install software themselves on individual instrumented classroom machines. Any software installed by instructors in this manner will be removed when we restore the machines. 
Please contact NDSU Service Center for questions at 231-8685


Keywords:
installation, software, computer labs, instrumented classroom support, support cycle, class,chatting, request software, software upgrade deadlines, 
Doc ID:
99790
Owned by:
Chad C. in NDSU IT Knowledge Base
Created:
2020-03-31
Updated:
2024-11-19
Sites:
NDSU IT Knowledge Base